Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Defunding Planned Parenthood Will Be Part Of Obamacare Repeal Bill, Ryan Says

The House speaker pledges that Republicans will strip the women's health organization of federal money as part of its effort to repeal the health law, and opponents of the move react.

The Wall Street Journal:
GOP Makes Fresh Effort To End Federal Funding For Planned Parenthood
That bill will use a budget maneuver known as reconciliation, which allows the Senate to pass legislation with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes typically needed. A similar clause stripping hundreds of millions of dollars away from Planned Parenthood appeared in a similar 2015 reconciliation bill, which passed both chambers of congress but which President Barack Obama vetoed. (Hackman, 1/5)

KCRA:
What’s At Stake In California If Planned Parenthood Loses Funding
Planned Parenthood has been battling Congressional Republicans for years. President and CEO of the California affiliates, Kathy Kneer, said the fight won't be so easy. "Now with Trump as the president-elect, they know they can pass it and it'll go to his desk and he'll sign it," Kneer said. “So, for this time it's for real for American women and women in California. This time they want to take away your birth control." (Griffin, 1/6)

The Hill:
Top Dem Senator To Trump: Weigh In On Planned Parenthood Fight
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to weigh in on a looming fight over Planned Parenthood. "I would ask the president elect to Twitter very loudly tomorrow morning ... that he stands behind women and that he wants to see the House back down," the No. 3 Senate Democrat told reporters. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said earlier Thursday that the House's ObamaCare repeal bill will defund the organization, though federal dollars are already prohibited from being used to cover abortions. (Carney, 1/5)

The Hill:
Planned Parenthood Launches National Campaign To Take On Trump, GOP
Planned Parenthood on Thursday launched a national effort aimed at pressuring the incoming Donald Trump administration and GOP to abandon efforts to "defund" the organization. Planned Parenthood, which has long been opposed by conservatives because it provides abortions in addition to other women's healthcare services, has planned nearly 300 events in 47 states that will include marches, rallies, letter-writing campaigns and other activities over the next few months. (Hellmann, 1/5)

A Trump administration health care adviser will play a role in the debate —

Stat:
What Trump’s New Health Policy Aide Says About Abortion And Birth Control
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to help lead health policy in the White House is a Senate aide with a record of strong rhetoric against birth control and abortion. Trump’s transition team announced Thursday that Katy Talento would work on health care policy for the White House Domestic Policy Council, which coordinates domestic policy-making. She was most recently legislative director for Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who is a fierce opponent of abortion. (Scott, 1/5)

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